Separator



Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

I I IOTZEBUE, OF OKLAHOMA.

sumaron.

` application mea apra 21, me.. semi 11. 103,550. f

My present invention relates generallyto separators particularly use-ful in the recovery of natural 'gasoline from natural gas, and more especially to separators of the type wherein natural gas is caused to pass through an absorbing medium, usually mineral seal oil, and the'electiveness of the operation is in direct proportion to the surface contact between the gas and the absorbing medium. Various devices have been resorted to to increase this surface contact, including the separation of the gas at high velocity, which produces -a foam on the surface of the absorbin -imedium, or oil but which reduces l5 the e ciency as a whole on account of the velocity of the gas. v

It is a primary object of my invention to produce a foam upon the surface of the oil so as to thereby increase the surface contact between the gas and the oil, without resorting to high velocity of the As or other means decreasing in the genera eiliciency of the operation. t

More especially my invention aims to produce foam on the surface of the oil, and in this way increase the surface contact by mechanical means capable of assisting rather than defeatin the operation, and capable ofy ready intro uction 1n connection with the bubble trays of separators for this general purpose, without adding materially to the cost thereof.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates my prese-nt invention and forms a part of this specification:-

Figure 1 isa horizontal section through a separatorof the ty to which my invention is es ecially app icable, one of the bubble trays eing seen 1n top plan view, and,

Figure 2 1s a partial vertical section through the separator and through portions of the two vertically spaced bub le trays.

' Referring now to these figures, the casing of the separator is seen at 10, having therein bubble trays 11 in the verticall spaced relation as shown in Fig. 2 whicA extend across the entire interior ofthe separator leasing, and are secured around their edges to the latter.

Each of the trays 11has therethrough a seriesof openings within 4which are secured the lower ends of upstanding tubular chimneys 12, whose uppler ends open' within caps 13 disposed .aroun lower slotted edges per surface of e in contact with the up-` trpay;

the chimneys with their In practice mineral oil is'held on each of the trays tothe level of the tops of the chimneys 12 and to the level of'the top of an overow pipe 14, with which each tray is equipped. Each of these pipes has its up per end open at the oil' level and has its, ower portion depending into the oil upon the surface of the next lowermost tray.

Y In an apparat-usof this type wherein the gas flows upwardly through.l the chimneys and into the caps, and then through the slots l of the lower edges of the caps upwardly vention purposes a means of producing foam 1n thls; 'action' upon the surface of the oil,

`through the gasoline absorbing oil, my in-y I the said means consisting of a series of layers of reticulate or foraminous material, indicated at 15, resting upon oneanother and upon the tops of the caps 13, these layers of material extending over each tray exceptl ayers of material in place above the surface o `the oil, the gas passes through the oil then through the layers of material 15, and then through the foam and the effectv of this is to greatly increase the surface contact and in the same roportion increase the effectiveness and e ciency of the operation-' Obviously my invention VVis, capable of ready application to. new separators, aswell as those already in use with little additional expense, and will be lasting and durable in use without requiring adjustment or special care. f

I claim -1 e 1. A bubble-tray for separators of the t pe described having chimneys upstan lng therethrough, and slotted caps over the chimneys, and means consisting of a series of layers of reticulate material su ported byv the caps above the upper ends o the chimneys arranged to produce and support foamin operation, as described. v 2. In a separator for separating gasoline `means in connection A consisting of a. series'of layers of reticulate material supported `in connection with the tray above the level of the gasoline absorb!l ing medium and arranged to produce andV support foam whereby to increase the surface contact between the and the gasoline ab'- sorbing medium, as escribed.

3.v An apparatus for separating gasoline Vvfrom natural gas conslsting ofa reaction tower provided with a series of tra forming a series of compartments within the a tray therein andtower, each of said trays being-provided with'a plurality 'of apertures through each of whic is fitted a tube for the passage of gas from one of said compartments to. the` adjacent com artrnent, eachtube-beng covered with a otted cap, means for maintaining a definite level of liquidl within each compartment, and means consisting of a Aplurality of layers of re'ticulated mnbers suported upon said slotted caps and ada ted to ring about the'format-ion of froth t rough the reduction in size of 'the bubbles resu t in from the intermixing of the gas and lq'- ui'within the compartment.

'MEINHARD H. Ko'rzEBUE. I' 

